Plastic banding ribbon



.Eufiy 18, 1967 J. M. GORDON 3,331,105

PLASTIC BANDING RIBBON Filed June 1, 1965 United States Patent 3,331,105 PLASTIC BANDING RIBBON Joseph M. Gordon, 60 Sutton Place, New York, N.Y. 10022 Filed June 1, 1965, Ser. No. 460,197 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-16) This invention relates to a new plastic type of tying or banding ribbon for purpose of securing various shaped boxes, packages, containers or aiticles so that they may be carried or shipped without loosening or separating from each other.

This invention is an improvement on applicants earlier construction as presented in US. Patent No. 2,851,787, entitled, Polyvinyl Wrapping Tape.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a plastic banding ribbon having self contained means for selectively shrinking in length after being bound about a package or the like so to render a firm grasp therearound.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plastic binding ribbon having the above object and fur ther having self contained means whereby the amount of shrinkage thereof may be selectively controlled so to provide varied degrees of firmness in the grasp thereof. Thus loosely closed packages may be further tightly sealed.

Yet another object is to provide a plastic banding ribbon having the above objects and which will continue to maintain a selected length under normal atmospheric temperature, thereby permitting the carrying of a package by simply holding only the ribbon. Thus packages containing pies or other objects that must not be tilted may be conveniently carried by simply passing a finger around the ribbon. Thus carrying of such package is possible even though a person is otherwise occupied with an armful of other packages.

Yet another object is to provide a plastic banding ribbon that may be selectively shrunk in length by subjecting it momentarily to a relatively warmer temperature after the ribbon has been applied around the package.

Yet another object is to provide a plastic banding ribbon having self contained means for shrinking up to approximately one half its length thereby providing a wide use of applications thereof and including the enclosing process of packages.

Yet another object is to provide a plastic banding ribbon for securing an instruction booklet or equivalent literature to a container or article without the necessity to employ sticky adhesives which usually cause a portion of the booklet paper to be torn off when attempting to remove the booklet subsequently. In this application, the shrunken banding ribbon will firmly secure the booklet prior to use, yet instantly release the same upon removal of the banding ribbon.

Other objects are to provide a plastic banding ribbon which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

To these ends, and in accordance with the invention, an endless plastic ribbon is provided which is made of uniaxially lengthwise oriented homo-polymer vinyl chloride film. The width of the ribbon thus remains constant, while its length, being uni-axially oriented in one dimension only, can be expanded to encircle the package and then heat-shrunk to the desired surrounding length.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing subsequent steps in the manufacture from raw material to the finished plastic banding ribbon.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing application of the banding ribbon over a package.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing a subsequent step wherein heat is applied to the banding ribbons binding the package.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a package bound according to the present invention shown being carried and supported by the banding ribbon.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the banding ribbons applied around two dis-similar articles to hold them together.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing the banding ribbon applied over a cylindrical container and retaining an instruction booklet thereto, and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing the banding Tibbon applied around a cluster of bananas to maintain them as a singular unit in retail sale.

Referring now to the drawing in detail the numeral 10 represents a stock of raw material from which the final product in this invention is produced. This stock of raw material comprises a sheet 11 composed from a compound of the following materials:

Percent by weight, Material: approx.

K803 (a homo-polymeric polyvinyl chloride resin manufactured under such designation by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company) 58 Plasticizer 40 Stabilizer 2 It is to be noted that in the above compound the plasticizer may be a dioctyl sebacate manufactured by C. P. Hall.

The stabilizer in the above compound may comprise approximately 1.3 percent of a proprietary calcium-zincstearate complex, designated No. 152 as manufactured by Argus Chemical Company; and approximately 1.7 percent of a barium-cadmium-zinc organo-phosphite complex, a proprietary compound designated as KCB and manufactured by Argus Chemical Company, and which is a substance approved by the U8. Food and Drug Administration for contact with food.

This sheet may be made in a variety of colors, as preferred. The sheet is calendered to a required thickness ranging from .006 to .010 of an inch. It is embossed into a fine diagonally crossed pattern and then oriented or stretched longitudinally of the machine direction to approximately 50% of its original dimension, as shown at 10a.

In order that the stretching may be accomplished, the sheet is heated to approximately 200 to 250 Fahrenheit degrees depending upon the sheet thickness. After it has been thus stretched it is cooled rapidly to below room temperature or to approximately 30 to 50 Fahrenheit degrees. The cooling thereof will prevent the sheet to otherwise retract or shrink back to its original length. Thus the cooled sheet 10a contains a shrinking force therein which is maintained in a dormant or inactive condition.

This sheet is then cut into various lengths from the standard calendered width roll, folded over (as shown at 12) and sealed together at its opposite edges 13 to form a tubing 14 which is subsequently cut along imaginary lines 15 to form narrow banding ribbons or bands 16.

The bands 16 may now be commercially sold for use to tie packages.

In operative use, to tie a package as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3, the bands 16 may be placed in conventional arrangement around a package 17, with one band binding the package around a longitudinal perimeter and the other band binding around a transverse perimeter. After the package is thus bonded by the bands, the package is moved momentarily in front of a portable heater 18 which may be of a type similar to a conventional portable hair dryer wherein a warm gust of air is directed outward therefrom toward the bands 16 causing them to instantly shrink, thus increasing their firm grasp of the package. Exposure for a longer moment to the heater will cause greater shrinkage of the bands. The heated warm air should have a temperature of approximately 150 degrees.

As soon as the bands appear to have shrunk sufficiently the package is removed away from the gust of warm air and further shrinkage is retarded. The bands now firmly bind the package and as shown in FIGURE 4 will permit carrying the package by holding only the bands Without them further stretching. Such method of holding is preferable when carrying a package 19 containing objects which should not be tilted.

FIGURE illustrates bands 20 firmly holding together dis-similar shaped cartons 21 and 22. FIGURE 6 illustrates bands 23 grasping a cylindrically shaped carton 24 and booklet 25 with sufliciently possible firmness to prevent the bands accidently slipping olf. FIGURE 7 illustrates an application of the present invention wherein band 26 binds fruits 27 in a manner conventionally used in supermarkets and wherein the band surface 28 is adaptable for being written up to carry a price legend 29.

It is to be understood that if preferred the band 16 may be hooked over diagonally opposite corners of a box on a well known manner as is conventionally done instead of method shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

It is to be recognized that the bands may if preferred be used in a conventional manner without the benefit of .4 heating after being placed about a package. When thus stretched around the package the band will recover slightly in a manner similar to conventional present bands, however, it will be stretchable under force. While various changes may be made in the detail construction it is understood that such changes will be limited to the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a banding ribbon forming a closed loop and being selectively shrinkable in length with the application of heat thereto, said band comprising approximately 58 percent uni-axially lengthwise oriented homo-polymeric vinyl chloride resin, approximately percent dioctyl seb-' acate plasticizer and a stabilizer of approximately 1.3 percent of a calcium-zinc-stearate complex and approximately 1] percent of a barium-cadmium-zinc organophosphate compound.

2. An endless banding ribbon according to claim 1, wherein said band is an article initially formed in a sheet of from .006 to .010 inch thick.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,545,243 3/1951 Rumsey 264-230 X 2,885,105 5/1959 Heyl et al 264--230 X 3,007,833 11/1961 Iackman 264-230 X 3,022,543 2/1962 Baird et al. 1857 JAMES L. JONES, 113., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A BANDING RIBBON FORMING A CLOSED LOOP AND BEING SELECTIVELY SHRINKABLE IN LENGTH WITH THE APPLICATION OF HEAT THERETO, SAID BAND COMPRISING APPROXIMATELY 58 PERCENT UNI-AXIALLY LENGTHWISE ORIENTED HOMO-POLYMERIC VINLY CHLORIDE RESINS, APPROXIMATELY 40 PERCENT DIOCTYL SEBACATE PLASTICIZER AND A STABILIZER OF APPROXIMATELY 1.3 PERCENT OF A CALCIUM-ZINC-STEARATE COMPLEX AND APPROXIMATELY 1.7 PERCENT OF A BARIUM-CADMIUM-ZINC ORGANOPHOSPHATE COMPOUND. 